LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I took the bus to start the walk at Hampton Court Palace. I talked to a lady on the gate who recognised me from my previous walk to Hampton Court on 24 August 2010. I took a short detour around the grounds adjacent to the Palace before starting the Path by the river bank towards the City of London. I decided to get a better view of the Palace and gardens from the 'Long Water' side of the estate, so I entered the grounds from Jubilee Gate and walked towards the Ditton Avenue Gate and 'Long Water' before returning to the Jubilee Gate via a detour around Home Park. On the Path again I passed 'The Pavilion', Thames Ditton Island, Raven's Ait, towards Kingston Upon Thames. I crossed Kingston Bridge to the town centre, then followed the east river bank past John Lewis Store to Canbury Gardens and Lower Ham Road. Beyond this road the Path changed to an unexpected stroll through the park, before reaching Teddington Lock and the decision to continue on the north or south bank of the river through the city. I decided to walk on the north bank so I crossed the river by the ornate suspension bridge to continue my Thames Path adventure. Unfortunately the first section was along Manor Road, Twickenham Road and Strawberry Vale to Radnor Gardens beside the river. I took a short detour along Cross Deep before returning to the river by Eel Pie Island at a pleasant promenade or embankment. There I had a very pleasant surprise by York House. I glimpsed a statue over a wall by an ornamental brick footbridge. A passer-by noticed my interest and explained that York House Gardens were open to the public. I was shown the entrance, an unlikely small door opening in the wall which was probably the old back exit from the House gardens when it was privately owned. I found my way round to the statues and was amazed at the quality and number of delightful statues (link www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.asp?ContentID=ll) [Google: York House Statues] I walked quickly around the gardens and soon returned over the stepped arched bridge back to the river path. I soon arrived at Orleans Gardens, Ham Ferry and Marble Hill Park Riverside Walk, with good views of the Star & Garter Home on Richmond Hill. I continued on past the Richmond Bridges with recent memories of Capital Ring Walk (walk 789) to Richmond, on the flight path to London Heathrow Airport. I was surprised to see the lock completely submerged at high tide. It was a complicated route around Isleworth, past the town wharf and the London Apprentice public house to Syon Park and Syon House. There were more complications as the path wanders to Brentford/London Road/High Street and the Grand Union Canal. I realised at this point, the Brentford Lock finger signpost, that my three London walks to date had all converged at this location. I then transferred from the Capital Ring route to the Grand Union Canal route to follow the canal to its termination with the River Thames. There were more twists and turns around the quays and High Street to the final riverside stretch towards Kew Bridge. I enjoyed a pie and a pint in the Wagon & Horses on High Street to reflect on the day's excellent walk, before catching the bus back to the hotel.

Location Map: - Start: at Hampton Court - Finish at Kew
(Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Buttons).